The T5 Q&a Thread

[The Grim Reefer]

Horkn

Where those the dual lamp retros (with the Aqualux looking reflectors)you heard about having failures?

 

[horkn]

yes grimmy, those were the ones

 

[phallock]

Originally posted by The Grim Reefer
Call up reefgeek and have him measure the actual area from the front edge of the front reflector to the rear edge of the rear reflector. I seem to remember it being about 12". If you look at the picture of a Tek hood the body is definatly wider than the lamp area. You might have a tad of a hangover at the rear but it isn't the end of the world. You could also check out the 5 lamp system Aquactinics.com sells. It might be a better fit for you.

Thanks for the tip - yep, I went back to their site and both the 6x54w retrofit and the full hood are listed as 15" wide, so chances are the retro is closer to 12" or so. Besides, doesn't the 6x54w setup fit a 55 gallon tank? I have a little bit more width to work with than a 55 does.

 

[thebicyclecafe]

Grim,
I'm setting up a prop tank for SPS (acropora and montis) and LPS that's 48x24x12. Will the 6x54 Teklight watt work? Planning to put the LPS on the front and back of the tank where the lighting won't hit as directly. (since only 6 bulbs) Light will be hung approx. 8-10" inches off the surface.
Bulbs will be chosen for optimum SPS growth, so 3 Sun 6500K and 3 Aquablue+. Color is of little importance to me, whatever grows them fastest.
How does that sound? Would the lighting cover the front and back enough at that height (for the LPS at least)? I would consider an 8 bulb unit but it's a lot more bulbs and a lot more bulbs to replace every 1.5-2 years.

Thanks!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

The retro will actually have a wider area needed than the hood. You need 2 1/2" per lamp so the retro takes up 15" for 6 lamps.

The hood has the reflectors edge to edge so the area producing the light is only about 12" if I am remembering right. The frame of the fixture overhangs the lamps at least an inch so it shouldn't be more than 13" from the front lamp to the back.

 

[dwdenny]

What would the color look like with 2 GE and 2 actinic+ lamps. I am looking at getting as much growth and color as possible. 39w lamps if that makes a difference.

 

[dvanacker]

It would look good.

 

[kmacartney]

I had two GE and two actinic lamps and it was a little two yellow for me.

 

[horkn]

km, the actinic + are the same as the blue+, which are different than the pure actinic, which it sounds like you had..

 

[Tingy99]

dwdenny,
The pics in my gallery are 2 GE and Actinic+ if your interested.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

I am amazed that has the amount of blue it shows Tingy. I would think it would be white at best.

 

[Justin74]

Was thinking the same thing grim. The GE and blue+ look pretty damn good together IMO, thanks for sharing Tingy99 .

-Justin

 

[dwdenny]

Tingy nice looking tank. I am just making sure that I have enough light to reach Montipora if I want to keep some digitata or others lower in my 40g breeder. I am going to get the lamps to be about 3" or so off the water so i think I will be fine and have good color and growth. I know most SPS keepers are MH but for a 15" deep tank it is overkill in my book even with 20KK(too blue for me). Thanks for the input hope to have things going by August.

 

[SunnyX]

Hey Grim, is there is big visual difference between T5 and PC?

I have the PC Orbit unit coming in today but really wanted the T5 Tek Unit.

The tank is 20.5Lx18Wx20.5H and I wanted the 24" Tek T5 unit, do you think the I would have that much spillage into the living room if I were to suspend the fixture over my tank?

I have not tried the PC fixture but I wanted to be able to keep all zoo's and LPS.

 

[Toledofishguy]

Pretty good advice floating around here.

Should I get a 8 X 54watt fixture or a 6 X54watt fixture for my 120? Plan on keeping sofites and lps only. I have a lot of shrooms and polyps.

I plan on order from Seeds Etc. or reefgeek

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7346124#post7346124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Hey Grim, is there is big visual difference between T5 and PC?

I have the PC Orbit unit coming in today but really wanted the T5 Tek Unit.

The tank is 20.5Lx18Wx20.5H and I wanted the 24" Tek T5 unit, do you think the I would have that much spillage into the living room if I were to suspend the fixture over my tank?

I have not tried the PC fixture but I wanted to be able to keep all zoo's and LPS.

T5 look better but the PC's have come a long ways in the last few years. I don't think the look is enough different to warrant having the T5's hang over the edge of the tank.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7346142#post7346142 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Toledofishguy
Pretty good advice floating around here.

Should I get a 8 X 54watt fixture or a 6 X54watt fixture for my 120? Plan on keeping sofites and lps only. I have a lot of shrooms and polyps.

I plan on order from Seeds Etc. or reefgeek

6 should be plenty.

 

[Justin74]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7346124#post7346124 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SunnyX
Hey Grim, is there is big visual difference between T5 and PC?

I have the PC Orbit unit coming in today but really wanted the T5 Tek Unit.

The tank is 20.5Lx18Wx20.5H and I wanted the 24" Tek T5 unit, do you think the I would have that much spillage into the living room if I were to suspend the fixture over my tank?

I have not tried the PC fixture but I wanted to be able to keep all zoo's and LPS.

I think your zoos and LPS will be very happy you chose the PC fixture. With my T5 I have to shade quite a few of my LPS, and or keep em on the bottom as well as my zoos.

-Justin

 

[dwdenny]

Do you plan on getting into high light corals? If so then maybe go with 8X54. Or start off with 6 then add 2 more later down the road. From what I have read Shrroms don't like T5 lighting might have to keep them in a cave or something to shade them.

 

[kmacartney]

Oh, I see. I ended up going with two pure actinic, 1 GE, and 1 Aquablue and like the results.